Experience Da Nang, Vietnam with a Group Tour

Experience Da Nang, Vietnam with a Group Tour

Over the Easter Holiday, my wife, Tracy and I got to experience Da Nang, Vietnam with a group tour. I had been to Vietnam once before with some friends maybe 15 years ago. It was a short more budget friendly trip. Tracy had never been to Vietnam. Growing up, I heard about Vietnam in the context of the Vietnam War. It left sort of a bitter unhappy taste in my month. I was born in 1973 and the “American War” as it was called ended in 1975. I didn’t realize that the war with the US went on for 20…
Don’t Forget 2025 Favourites

Don’t Forget 2025 Favourites

Tracy and I did a lot in 2025. We traveled overseas, went back to the states for home visit, visited friends, went to a variety of places in Hong Kong and even invited Watoto boys to come live with us twice. At the time, many of these events seemed like a blur together for me. I didn’t have time to really fully appreciate the moments as they happened, but I did however have a camera in hand. You probably did a lot as well. Whether you had a camera or smartphone in hand is secondary. I want to encourage you…
Embrace Challenges in the New Year

Embrace Challenges in the New Year

A lot of teachers go traveling during the holidays and normally my wife and I are keen to go  traveling also. But this Chinese New Year was different for us. We took a break right here at home in Hong Kong. In the West, most people make New Year’s resolutions and in Asia there is big a emphasis on starting the year new. That could be new things, new red clothes or even new ideas. The two traditions are similar. It’s not that the old is bad. Many times we are too busy to appreciate the old. Sometimes we really…
Good News For Hong Kong

Good News For Hong Kong

Between political unrest, Covid 19, lots of people leaving and now the TaiPo fire, Hong Kong people have been through a lot. A number of people have told me that they are leaving for their kids (they want a better future for them) and I have talked to others who tell me that they are staying because they need the money. They have established themselves here in Hong Kong and they are afraid to leave and start over again somewhere else. It doesn't sound like a very positive atmosphere, does it? I think in Hong Kong, most people tend to…
The GH6 at a “Rock Concert”

The GH6 at a “Rock Concert”

Okay it wasn’t a rock concert, but there were lights, fog machines, and lots of people. I was at the Justice Conference Asia. The theme this year was Re-imagining. It was amazing, and I will write a separate post on it. In this post, I want to reflect on how the GH6 handled the conditions and show you the 3 minute video I put together. Panasonic GH6 First I am relatively new to the GH6. I have owned it a little over a month and have not had a lot of time to play with it. It’s a M43 camera…
Finding Community in Hong Kong

Finding Community in Hong Kong

Hong Kong is a busy place. Everyday people sacrifice relationship in favor of efficiency. Get more work done often translates into more money but fewer relationships. I know that this isn’t just a Hong Kong phenomena, but maybe I’m more sensitive to it because Hong Kong is my home. People work really long hours here, but it's not just work that gets in the way of community. As modern people who live in a modern city, we place a high value on food, convenience, and gadgets. These things aren't by themselves wrong. However, they do have a tendency to distract…
Spirited Away is Still Relevant

Spirited Away is Still Relevant

Years ago a friend in China gave me a video titled Spirited Away. It was in Mandarin and Japanese, and because at the time, I was studying Mandarin, I was really excited to receive it from him. I watched the film several times. I couldn’t understand all the words because my Mandarin was only so so, but I was captivated by the animation, colors, sound effects and characters. The basic storyline of a little girl, Chihiro, left alone to survive in this world stuck with me. Years later, I found the story had also been translated into English so I…
Kodak Is More Than A Camera

Kodak Is More Than A Camera

Rochester my home town is also the home of Kodak. It used to be that if you mention Kodak that people had fond feelings and were proud of Kodak. While today Kodak still exists and employs around 4000 people. It is nowhere near as large as it once was. At its height in 1988, Kodak employed 145,300 people worldwide. But how did Kodak get started? Over our summer home visit Tracy and I visited the George Eastman Museum to learn the answers to these questions and more. George Eastman, the founder, began producing dry photographic plates in 1880. Awhile after…
Old Friends Revisited

Old Friends Revisited

Years go by, but old friends still hold a special place in our hearts. My best friend growing up had his surprise 50th birthday celebration (He is the guy on the right). His wife Veronica organized it for him and contacted me on Facebook to let me know about it. Great job Veronica! I'm so glad that Tracy and I got to play a part in Stephen's special day. As you will see from the video, we ate well. It was delicious. Stephen is a special guy. He has been serving in Eagles Wings ever since he graduated from music…
The People in Our Lives

The People in Our Lives

We all need people in our lives not just passers by. Hong Kong’s EDB (Education Department Bureau) recognizes the importance of connections and encouraging NET teachers to return home to their home countries to reconnect with family and friends. Under the classic NET scheme, NET teachers can return every to 2 years and the EDB will reimburse them for the cost of their plane tickets. This summer was the first time for my wife Tracy and I to return back to the states together since we left in 2016. Friends Admittedly, I was a bit nervous about whether or not…